1828 Dated Antique HARPERS FERRY M1816 Percussion “CONE” Conversion Musket CIVIL WAR Conversion of the Venerable Model 1816!

Product Description

1828 Dated Antique HARPERS FERRY M1816 Percussion “CONE” Conversion Musket

CIVIL WAR Conversion of the Venerable Model 1816!

Here we present an antique Harpers Ferry U.S. Model 1816 Percussion Conversion Musket, manufactured at the armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, circa 1828. This musket would have started out life as a smoothbore flintlock and likely converted around the start of the American Civil War. The War of 1812 revealed many weaknesses in American muskets. In an attempt to improve both the design and manufacture of the musket, the Model 1812 musket was created. The Model 1816 made further improvements and replaced the Model 1812. Harpers Ferry became America’s second national armory after the site was personally selected by George Washington, with the Springfield Armory being the first. The U.S. Congress authorized the building of the new foundry in 1794, and by the following year, was producing hundreds of arms for the national army, which was primarily flintlock muskets and pistols. Inspired largely by the French Charleville Model 1777 musket, Harpers Ferry began producing the Model 1816. The M1816 was a smoothbore, muzzle loading weapon which used a .69 caliber musket ball. A trained shooter could fire between two and three rounds at a range of up to 200 yards per minute.

The Model 1816 was in production at Springfield (325,000) and Harpers Ferry (350,000) between 1816 to 1844 with around 675,000 muskets produced during this run. Additionally, more than a dozen contractors also made the Model 1816 Muskets during its production years, adding more than 146,000 muskets for a grand total of 821,421 M1816 Muskets produced. It saw service during the Mexican-American War and was even pressed into service during the Civil War in both the updated percussion and the old flintlock format. In the 1850’s, many 1816’s like this one went through the conversion from flintlock to percussion.

This musket was converted to percussion using the Belgian Style Alteration method, more commonly known as the “Cone Type” conversion. All external lock parts were removed with the screw hole plugged, the pan ground flush with lock plate (leaving the remnants intact) and the small existing cavity in the pan filled with brass to give it a level or squared off profile along the top. The vent hole of the barrel was plugged with a nipple screwed into the threaded receptacle at the top of the barrel, set off center towards the lock side. Then, adding the distinctive arsenal, military hammer. This is the type of conversion that was only done at Harper’s Ferry and Springfield and is sometimes referred to as an “armory conversion.”

The overall condition is good. Strong action. The bore is in good shape for its age. This example sports a solid stock with an average amount of wear. Markings are legible. “1828” dated lock. A mixed gray/brown patina is present along most metal parts.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 42 inches.

Caliber: .69 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$2000
#250501